Rail transport in Germany: Difference between revisions
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In 2006, railways in Germany carried ca. 119,968,000 passengers in long-distance trains (at an average distance of 288 km), and 2,091,828,000 passengers in short-distance trains (21 km on average). In the same year they carried 346,118,000 tonnes of goods at an average distance of 309 km.<ref name="sba-8.2-2006">Federal Statistical Office of Germany, Fachserie 8, Reihe 2: Verkehr, Eisenbahnverkehr 2006</ref> |
In 2006, railways in Germany carried ca. 119,968,000 passengers in long-distance trains (at an average distance of 288 km), and 2,091,828,000 passengers in short-distance trains (21 km on average). In the same year they carried 346,118,000 tonnes of goods at an average distance of 309 km.<ref name="sba-8.2-2006">Federal Statistical Office of Germany, Fachserie 8, Reihe 2: Verkehr, Eisenbahnverkehr 2006</ref> |
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[[File:Verkehrsleistung Privatbahnen in Prozent.jpg|thumb|Volume-Percentage of private railway companies in Germany]] |
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Deutsche Bahn (state-owned private company) is the main provider of railway service. In recent years a number of competitors have started business. They mostly offer state-subsidized regional services, but some, like [[Veolia Verkehr]] offer long-distance services as well. |
Deutsche Bahn (state-owned private company) is the main provider of railway service. In recent years a number of competitors have started business. They mostly offer state-subsidized regional services, but some, like [[Veolia Verkehr]] offer long-distance services as well. |
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Revision as of 07:37, 6 May 2011
| Germany | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 An ICE 3 at St. Ingbert | |||||
| Operation | |||||
| National railway | Deutsche Bahn | ||||
| System length | |||||
| Total | 41,315 kilometres (25,672 mi) | ||||
| Electrified | 19,857 kilometres (12,339 mi) | ||||
| Track gauge | |||||
| Main | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | ||||
| Electrification | |||||
| 15 kV 16 2/3 Hz | Main network | ||||
| |||||
As of 2005[update], Germany had a railway network of 41,315 km. 19,857 km are electrified. The total track length was 76,473 km. Germany is a member of the International Union of Railways (UIC). The UIC Country Code for Germany is 80.
Overview
Deutsche Bahn and ca. 150 private railway companies operated a total of 23,496 powered rail vehicles[1]:
| Passenger transport | Goods | Sum | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long-distance | Short-distance | |||
| Multiple units | 538 | 15,224 | 0 | 15,762 |
| Locomotives | 2,650 | 1,950 | 3,134 | 7,734 |
| Sum | 3,188 | 17,174 | 3,134 | 23,496 |
In 2006, railways in Germany carried ca. 119,968,000 passengers in long-distance trains (at an average distance of 288 km), and 2,091,828,000 passengers in short-distance trains (21 km on average). In the same year they carried 346,118,000 tonnes of goods at an average distance of 309 km.[2]
Deutsche Bahn (state-owned private company) is the main provider of railway service. In recent years a number of competitors have started business. They mostly offer state-subsidized regional services, but some, like Veolia Verkehr offer long-distance services as well.
- Deutsche Bahn long distance trains
- Intercity-Express (high speed train which is either national or on some routes to the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, France and Denmark)
- EuroCity (international long-distance trains)
- InterCity (national long-distance trains)
- EuroNight (international night trains)
- DB NachtZug (national and international night trains)
- UrlaubsExpress (national night trains to the Alps and the Baltic Sea during vacation times)
The InterRegio services, introduced in 1988 and replacing the former Schnellzug and the InterCity, have been abolished in 2003. Generally Deutsche Bahn increases the percentage of InterCityExpress services, gradually downgrading the remaining InterCity services into the role formerly played by InterRegio.
- Veolia Verkehr (offers services on former Interregio routes)
- Thalys (high-speed train to Belgium and France; adapted French TGV)
- Cisalpino (to Italy, service discontinued mid-December 2006)
- Regional rail and local rail traffic is ordered and paid for (as the fares usually do not cover the expenses) by the federal states. Usual procedure under EU legislation is to award the contract to the lowest bid by means of a tender procedure. The respective states are free to announce short- or long-term contracts as well as to stipulate further conditions e. g. on rolling stock. In the past years, many bids were won by private rail companies like NordWestBahn or Arriva, although some states have awarded long-term contracts to local DB Regio subsidiaries. The train types for regional and local traffic are:
- Regional-Express (medium-distance semi-fast trains for regional services)
- Regionalbahn (basic local service, usually calling at all stations)
- S-Bahn (suburban rail transport offered mainly by Deutsche Bahn, sometimes by others)
- U-Bahn (underground)
- Tram (light rail services, sometimes including underground passages in the city centers)
Track Gauges Used in Germany
Irish gauge - 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)*
| Country/region | Notes |
|---|---|
| Germany | Grand Duchy of Baden State Railway 1840 - 1855[3] |
Russian gauge (metric) - 1,520 mm/4 ft 115⁄6 in
| Country/region | Notes |
|---|---|
| Germany | Only at Sassnitz/Mukran ferry terminal for freight train ferries to Klaipeda and Baltijsk. |
Standard gauge - 1,435 mm / 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in
This is the Standard or international gauge
| Country/region | Companies | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Deutsche Bahn |
Metre gauge - 1,000 mm/3 ft 33⁄8 in
| Country/region | Notes |
|---|---|
| Germany | Harz Narrow Gauge Railways, trams |
Uncommon or obsolete gauges
Broad gauge
| Gauge | Country/region | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metric mm |
Imperial | ||
| 2,140 | 7 ft 0¼in | ||
| 1,800 | 5 ft 10⅞ in | Germany | Oberweißbacher Bergbahn (funicular section only)[3] |
| 1,458 | 4 ft 92⁄5 in | Germany | Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe AG |
| 1,450 | 4 ft 91⁄5 in | Germany | Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe AG |
Narrow gauge
Narrow gauge railways with a gauge above 22.75 and below 1,000 mm.
| Gauge | Country/region | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metric mm |
Imperial | ||
| 750 | 2 ft 5½ in | ||
| Germany | Lößnitzgrundbahn; Weißeritztalbahn; Döllnitzbahn GmbH; Zittauer Schmalspurbahn | ||
| 600 "Decauville gauge" |
1 ft 11⅝in | ||
| Germany | Park Railway Chemnitz[4] | ||
| 900 | 2 ft 117⁄16 in | ||
| Germany | Mecklenburgische Bäderbahn | ||
Rail links to adjacent countries
All these links are to countries of the same gauge, although electrification and other systems (such as signalling) may differ.
Denmark — voltage change to 25 kV AC
Poland — voltage change to 3 kV DC
Czech Republic — voltage change to 3 kV DC
Austria — same voltage
Switzerland — same voltage
France — voltage change to 25 kV AC or 1500 V DC).
Luxembourg— voltage change to 25 kV AC or 3 kV DC
The Netherlands — voltage change to 1500 V DC
- Betuweroute voltage change to 25 kV AC - freight only
Belgium — voltage change to 3 kV DC
See also
- Rail transport by country
- Transport in Germany
- History of rail transport in Germany
- German locomotive classification
- German Railway Society
- Railways of Germany (association)
References
- ^ Federal Statistical Office of Germany, Fachserie 8, Reihe 2.1: Verkehr, Eisenbahnverkehr/Betriebsdaten des Schienenverkehrs 2006
- ^ Federal Statistical Office of Germany, Fachserie 8, Reihe 2: Verkehr, Eisenbahnverkehr 2006
- ^ a b Rieger, Bernhard (2006-04-23). "Breitspurbahn". Retrieved 2007-11-29.
- ^ "Parkeisenbahnen in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz". Retrieved 2009-08-23.
External links
Media related to Rail transport in Germany at Wikimedia Commons
